European Software Sales Reach $413 million in Second Quarter 1993
Windows Applications Account for 72% of Reported Sales

September 22, 1993 (Washington, DC) - The Software Publishers Association
(SPA) announced today that North American software firms' revenues in
Western Europe were $413 million in the second quarter of 1993, a 10%
increase in revenues with a 55% growth in units compared with the second
quarter 1992. Total sales for the first half were $896 million, up 15%
from the first half of 1992.

Forty-one primarily US-based software firms participated in the SPA's data
program by submitting confidential data to the accounting firm of Arthur
Andersen, which prepared the report for the SPA. Among the participants
are: Aldus, Borland, Claris, Lotus, Microsoft, Software Publishing,
Symantec, and WordPerfect. The data was collected in 22 software
categories (including word processors, spreadsheets, presentation
graphics, and others) and in six software formats (including DOS,
Macintosh, and Windows).

The participating companies reported total sales in Western Europe of
$413.1 million in the second quarter of 1993. Sales of Windows-based
products grew 47% compared with the second quarter of 1992, reaching
$297.0 million in the '93 quarter. Windows products now account for 72% of
participating publishers' sales in Europe. Sales of DOS-based applications
declined 43% compared with the second quarter of 1992, with sales of $75.2
million in the second quarter 1993. Sales of Macintosh-based applications
declined 1% to $34.3 million.

Growth rates varied widely among the regions in which the SPA collects data
(See table below). The Germany/Austria region remained the largest, with
sales of $117.0 million. Sales growth slowed considerably in the region in
the second quarter, rising only 3% compared with the 56% growth rate of
the first quarter. The United Kingdom/Ireland region next largest, with
sales of $98.7 million (up 8%), while France was third, on sales of $70.4
million (up 9%).

Software Sales In US Dollars

                    2Q93 Sales of
                    Participating      Growth 2Q92
                  Firms (Millions)       to 2Q93
Benelux                $ 30.2              (8%)
France                   70.4               9%
Germany/Austria         117.0               3%
Italy                    36.6             169%
Nordic                   14.9             (30%)
Spain/Portugal           13.0              39%
Sweden                   15.9              33%
Switzerland              16.3              (5%)
UK/Ireland               98.7               8%

Total 2Q93 Sales of    $413.1              10%

* Nordic region includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway

"The figure that stands out in contrast from all the others is the sales
growth in the Italian market," said Gerard Gabella, Managing Director of
SPA Europe. "In the second quarter, the industry started to see the fruits
of the Italian government's actions against VAT avoiders, including
software pirates. Italy has historically had one the highest rates of
piracy among Western countries. We hope that the Italian government's
actions will continue to reduce the acceptance and pervasiveness of piracy
in Italy, to the benefit of the software industry and software users."

Word processing was once again the largest category of software sold, with
sales of $119 million for the quarter, a 1% increase over the 1992
quarter. Spreadsheets was the next largest category, with sales of $114
million, up 6%. Relational database sales remained very strong for the
quarter, with sales up 71% to $36 million.

Established in 1984, the Software Publishers Association is the principal
trade association of the PC software industry. Its over 1,000 members
represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education
markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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